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New Carlisle officials warn of Fire/EMS staffing shortfalls; levy discussed
Summary
City officials and the fire division told the City Council that New Carlisle is losing paramedics and faces recruitment pressures that could require new funding or a shift to full‑time staffing. Council members discussed a possible levy and regional consolidation as options.
New Carlisle City Council members and city staff heard a detailed briefing on May 5 from the city’s fire leadership about staffing losses and the strain on emergency medical services.
Chief Trustee, who presented the Fire Division’s April response data, said the city responded to 97 EMS calls in April and that the department is actively recruiting. “We are hiring EMTs, firefighters, and paramedics. We need them,” the chief said. He reported recent departures and impending losses, saying, “I lost 3 paramedics as of June 1,” and giving a running count of certified staff available for duty.
The council was told the local market is changing: neighboring departments are offering full‑time pay and, in some cases, hiring candidates without full certification and sending them through school after hire. Council members and staff said those recruiting tactics are already drawing New Carlisle personnel away. City Manager Mr. Hall told council members that staff will need to consider longer‑term funding strategies and personnel models rather than incremental hourly raises.
Why it matters: Council members said staffing shortfalls could reduce emergency capacity or force changes to the current partly‑volunteer model. During discussion members raised the prospect of placing a firefighting levy on a future ballot and noted that the city’s existing renewal extends for two more years but could be modified. Staff also discussed the long lead time, cost, and political complexity of creating a consolidated fire district with neighboring jurisdictions.
Council comments and next steps focused on budgeting and recruitment. Council members asked staff to prepare options for the budget cycle and to analyze whether moving toward additional full‑time positions, or pursuing a levy, would be feasible. No formal council motion to impose a levy was made at the May 5 meeting.
The chief reiterated the operational strain on the department and the urgency of recruiting: he described ongoing mutual‑aid calls and the difficulty of replacing certified paramedics quickly. Council members said they will review proposals from staff during upcoming budget discussions and consider whether a ballot measure should be pursued ahead of the next tax cycle.
No legislation was adopted on staffing at the May 5 meeting; the council asked staff to return with cost estimates and options for the fall budget process.
